Rhodri Jones jokes delivering eggs from close friend Dan Lydiate has earned him a new nickname at Dragons – but he is hatching a plan to upset his former team-mate when they clash today.
Wales international Jones returns to the Swansea.com Stadium this Saturday lunchtime as the Men of Gwent face off with Ospreys in then BKT United Rugby Championship (kick-off 1pm).
Jones spent six seasons in Swansea and remains close to several players at Ospreys – and none more so than Lydiate.
Ex-Dragon Lydiate last year started a free-range organic egg business and Jones has been helping out by taking up eggs to the players at Ystrad Mynach.
But all orders have been off this week as Jones looks to enjoy a winning return to his former club.
“I try and help Lyds out, we are good friends and we live close together, so I bring a few trays of eggs up for the boys,” admitted Jones ahead of the game this week.
“The boys all seem to laugh about it and they call me Eggy - so I have a new nickname!
“We haven’t done any this week, but that is more down to a big order last Friday rather than derby day.
“I’m looking forward to the game,” he added. “It’s exciting to go back and I have a lot of friends there. I have good memories of my six years with them.
“It does give the week a bit more of a personal touch, but I’m looking forward going there with the Dragons and playing our brand of rugby.
“It’s been a good move for me. I feel it has benefitted me a lot coming here, just by playing more, that is all I want to do.
“I feel my game has improved. Even at my age, I feel I am learning and getting better.
“There is good strength in depth with Aki (Seiuli), Rob Evans and Josh Reynolds. We all get on well and it’s a healthy environment.”
Dragons won an entertaining league encounter 32-25 when the teams met in October – courtesy of a try brace from Rio Dyer.
“It was a tough fixture when we played them earlier this season, but I felt we had a good mix to our game that day,” added Jones.
“I wouldn’t day we nullified their pack that day, but we had parity, and our backs were sharp. It was my first start so it was an extra special day for me.
“We know what is coming on Saturday. They have a good set piece, they pride themselves on their pack, scrum and driving lineout, so that’s an important part of the game, to nullify and apply pressure.
“We’ve also got a good scrum and lineout. We’ve scored a few driving lineouts and got one against them, so we have a good pack in our own right.”
Dai Flanagan’s men go into the game looking to return to winning ways after a season of near misses in the league.
And Jones acknowledges that getting over the line and nailing down close games is a trait the squad need to rediscover before this season is out.
“I feel we’ve played quite well this season; we’ve been into a lot of games until the last minute, but we need to get over that line a bit more consistently,” he said.
“I do feel we are heading in the right direction. I know people have probably been saying it for a few years, but it does feel like that.
“We do feel we are better than the league says, but at the same time the table doesn’t lie.
“I do see improvement from where we have been. Every game seems to be close, there haven’t been many games when we have been blown out the park.
“It gives us confidence, but we have got to get over that line. That will see you creep up the table and it looks better on paper.
“I certainly feel we play a good brand of rugby, with a mixture of forwards and backs.”
It’s been a good move for me. I feel it has benefitted me a lot coming here, just by playing more, that is all I want to do...
